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Drooping star-of-Bethlehem

Drooping star-of-Bethlehem is an exotic plant. Its origin lies in western Turkey, Bulgara and eastern Greece. It is a typical stinsen plant and arrived on Texel when snowdrops were importedÂ from France. Stinzen plants are (often wild) bulbous plants which were first planted long ago by Frisian (stinzen) and Groningen (borgen) estates, country houses and castles. Contrary to the indigenous Star-of-Bethlehem, the drooping star-of-Bethlehem can reproduce via seed as well as bulbs.

The seeds of drooping-star-of-Bethlehem are covered in an oily substance. There are many species of ants attracted to this and they will dragged the seeds to their nest. The oily substance is called elaiosome, however the Dutch name is much more descriptive: ant bread. The ants feed the elaiosome to their larvae. This is one way to distribute seeds. Thousands of plant species have this sameÂ feature. A few other examples are snowdrops and pansies.

Drooping star-of-Bethlehem growsÂ on calcium-rich grounds in the inner dune ridges of the Holland coastal provinces and on Texel. Being a stinsen plant, it is also found by estates in parts of Friesland, Groningen, Zeeland and dispersed along the river regions. Otherwise, it isÂ a rare plant. It grows well in lightly shaded areas, often among grass, as long as no sheep graze.